Shipping crate or case



No. 626,4l9. Patented lune 6, I899.

J. M. GILBERT SHIPPING CRATE 0R CASE {Applicati un filed May 19, 598..)

(N0 Modei.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

m: News FETERS col. vuo1o-umo, wmmumm u c N0. 626,4!9. Patented June 6,I899. J. M. GILBERT.

SHIPPING CRATE 0R CASE.

(Application filed May 19, 1898.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT EEIcE.

JOEL M. GILBERT, OF CLINTON, CONNECTICUT.

SHIPPING CRATE OR CASE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 626,419, dated June 6,1899.

Application filed May 19, 1898. Serial No- 681,106. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOEL M. GILBERT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Clinton, in the county of Middlesex and State ofConnecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inShipping Crates or Cases; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

This invention relates to improvements in shipping crates orreceptacles, and particularly to such devices adapted to receive andretain vessels containing liquids and similar substances; and some ofthe objects of the invention are to provide a device of this generalcharacter which will subserve the function of a shipping-receptacle andprovide means for conveniently discharging the contents of the vesselwithin the receptacle and to provide such a device which will be simpleand cheap in construction and at the same time positive and effective inoperation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of thischaracter adapted to receive vessels constructed of material easilybroken and to prevent such vessels from impact, concussion, and jarsincident to transportation and use and to prevent the accidentaldisengagement of the vessel from the retaining device; and with theseand other objects in view the invention consists, substantially, of theconstruction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter morefully described in the following specification and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of abottle or similar vessel provided with one form of my improved shippingcrate or receptacle, showing the samein position for transportation.Fig. 2 is a similar view illustrating the tilting attachment inoperative position. Fig. 3 is a View, similar to Fig. 1, of a modifiedform of construction of the tilting attachment. Fig. 4 shows the tiltingattachment illustrated in Fig. 3 in operative position. Fig. 5 is a sideview of a bottle or vessel detached from, the crate or receptacle. Fig.6 is a longitudinal central section of the main or body portion of thecrate or receptacle. Fig. 7 is a modified form of a crate or receptacle.Figs. 8, 9, and 10 are detail views of a modified form of corner springscapable of employment with the construction illustrated in Fig. 7. Fig.11 is a detailed view of a portion of the main or body portion of thecrate or receptacle and of the bottle or vessel. view of the lockin gmeans for the yokes. Fig. 13 illustrates a modified form of bail thatmay be employed. Fig. 14 shows a port-ion of a bottle or vessel providedwith undulatory or serpentine ridges or extensions.

Similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughoutthe several views.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to the construction shown inFigs. 1, 2, 5, 6, 11, and 12 thereof, the reference character 1designates a bottle or other vessel, of glass, china, earthen ware,orsimilar material, which is preferably provided with vertical rows orcolumns 2, Fig. 5, of horizontal exterior grooves 3, preferably blown orformed in the exterior surface of the bottle or vessel, for the purposehereinafter described, and these grooves maybe undulatory, convolute,serpentine, or of any preferred form.

The bottle or vessel 1 is detachably secured within a casing or drum 4,(shown in elevation in Figs. 1 and 2 and in section in Fig. 6,)preferably constructed of sheet metal, compressed fiber, wood-pulp, orother suitable material, and the casing or drum may be corrugated, asshown at 5, Fig. 6, and vertical parallel rows of incisions or slits 6are made in the inner surface of the corrugations of the casing or drum1, and the portion of the inner surface of said corrugations betweensaid incisions or slits is then bent inwardly, as shown at 7 in Fig. 11,forming pointed ribs or ridges 8, Fig. 6, adapted to enter and engagethe grooves 3 in the bottle or vessel 1. and retain the same within thecasing or drum 4, as will be readily understood.

The vertical rows of ribs or ridges 8 on the inner surface of the casingor drum 4 are adapted to register with the smooth surface 9, Fig. 5, onthe bottle or vessel 1, so that the latter may be introduced into andwithdrawn from the casing or drum l Whenever the bottle or vessel 1 isplaced so that the smooth surface 9 coincides with the rows of ribs orFig. 12 is a detailed,

by the ribs or ridges 8, as before described.

A skeleton 'or frame like crate 12, Fig. 7, may be employed instead ofthe casing or drum 4, before described, composed of corner pieces 13.,with which are connected horisprings are secured upon theinnersurface ofthe corner-pieces 13, adapted to engage the grooves 3 in the bottle orvessel 1 in the same manner as the rows of ribs or ridges 8, beforedescribed, and retain the bottle or vessel 1 in position within thecrate 12, as will be readily understood.

The spiral springs 15. may be constructed of wire or any other suitablematerial, and they may be attached to the corner-pieces 13 by means ofstaples or similar devices 16, as shown in Fig. 8, or a continuousundulatory strip or band 17, Fig. 9, of sheet metal may be employedinstead of the spiral springs 15, hereinbefore set forth, or a piece ofwire or a small rod of metal may be bent, as shown at 18, Fig. 10, andsecured to the cornerpi'eces 13 by staples or similardevices 19, and thepointed projections of the strip 17 and wire. or rod 18 are adapted toengage the grooves 3 in the bottle or vessel 1 in the man ner beforedescribed andas shown in Fig. 10 0f t e dra ng The tilting attachment,Figs. 1 and 2,, consists of an outer yoke 20 and an inner yoke 21, bothpivoted at their free ends to the. vertical cleats or strips 22, securedupon the outside of the casings or drum 4:, and these yokes are providedwith pivoted interhinged links 23, adapted to limit the outward movementof the yokes when the latter are in operative position, as shown in Fig.2 of the drawings, and; when the yokes are in this position the bottleor vessel 1 can be easily tilted to discharge the contents thereofwithout the difficulty and inconvenience of lifting the bottle or vessel1, asis usually done.

In Figs. 3 and 4 is illustrated a modified formof tilting attachmentwherein a. single yoke is employed, which is pivotally connected to bars26', and the short end of these bars are pivoted or hingedto a lever 27,and the short end of the lever 27 is pivotally connected to-two of thecleats or strips 28 upon the outside of the casing or drum 4, and; the

ends of the yoke 25 are connected by a transverse rod or bar 29, andpivoted at one end to the bars26 is a link 30, provided at the free endthereof with a. recessed head 31, adapted to engage a pin or staple 32upon the inside of the yoke 25 to prevent the separationof the ends ofthe yoke 25 and the free ends of the bars 26, as is clearly shown.

When the tilting attachments before described are not in use, they arefolded up upon the cleats or strips in the manner shown in Figs. 1 and3, and they are retained in this position by means of locking-yokes 33and 34:,

pivotally mounted in the cleats or strips 22 and 28, respectively, thefree ends of said yokes carrying inwardly-projecting extensions adaptedto pass through segmental slots 35 and 36 in the yokes 20, 21, and 25and enter the slots in the cleats or strips 22 and 28 when notinlockingposition, as shown in Figs. 3 2 and f the drawings, and to bethrown outzontal side pieces 13, and vertical spiral ward and downwardupon the yokes 21 and 25 when it is desired to lock the same inposition, as in Figs. 1, 3, and 12, and, if desired,

the locking-yokes may be provided with a spring-catch 37, Fig. 12, toretain them in a vertical position when not in use.

Pivotally connected with the upper ends of the cleats or strips 22 and28 are bailsor handles 38, preferably constructed of a strip of sheetmetal, or, if desired, the bail or handle may be formed of parallelstrands of wire 40, Fig. 13, connected bya diagonal wire 41, which istwisted about the wires 40 at predetermined intervals,and the bail orhandles are provided with pivoted clamps 42, adapted to enter mortisesor recesses in the edges of the yokes 20, g 21 and 25, so that the freeends of said clamp I approach each other and are confined by a lockingdevice 50, having two loops or apertured extensions 51, adapted toengage the free ends of' said clamps and retain the same in a lockedposition over and above the yokes, as clearly illustrated in thedrawings, and 1 thereby prevent the accidental disengagement of theyokes and bail or handle, and, if

desired, a wire, chain, or lock may be passed 1 through the free ends.of the clamp 42 above nying drawings and the following descriptionthereof.

The bottle orvessel 1 is introduced into the casing or drum 4 so thatthe ribs or edges 8 coincide with the smooth surface 9 on the bottle orvessel, and when within the casing or drum the bottle or vessel isturned slightly, so that the ribs or ridges engage the grooves on thebottle orvessel and prevent its accidental disengagement. Then the bailis brought into a vertical position above the bottle or vessel, and theyoke or yokes. are elevated above the bail or handle and locked inposition by the locking-yokes, and theclamps are forced outward upon theyokes and the latter are secured in position, and the whole is ready fortransportation. WVhen it is desired to discharge the contents of thebottle or vessel,

the yokes are disengaged and are separated on each side of the bottom ofthe bottle or vessel and the links 23 are forced into position, and thecontents of the bottle or vessel can be quickly and easily dischargedwithout the trouble and inconvenience of lifting and moving the same,which occasions considerable work in the case of large bottles orvessels.

The tilting attachment illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 is put intooperative position by bringing the yokes 25 off to one side of thebottle or vessel and engaging thelinks 80 upon the pins 32 and forcingthe free end of the lever 27 downwardly and engaging the same to a studin the yoke 25.

I do not desire to confine myself to the specific construction,combination, and arrangement of parts herein shown and described, and Itherefore reserve the right to make all such changes and modificationsof the same as come within the spiritand scope of my invention.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A shipping crate or case of corrugated material provided withcushions formed out of the corrugations thereof and bent in an oppositedirection to contact with a vessel.

2. A shipping crate or case having formed out of the bottom and sidesthereof resilient cushions and a vessel adapted to be secured withinsaid crate having grooves to receive said cushions, whereby the vesselis prevented from injury and disengagement from said crate or case.

3. A shipping crate or case of yielding material provided with a casingor drum having a corrugated surface whereof are formed sprin gcushionsand a vessel having a roughened exterior to receive said cushions,whereby the vessel is prevented from accidental disengagement and fromimpact.

t. A shipping crate or case provided with vertical rows of resilientcushions formed out of the sides thereof, the bottom of said crate orcase also having cushions, and a vessel having vertical rows of groovesoperating with said cushions, wherebyinjury to the vessel is prevented.

5. A shipping crate or case having resilient cushions formed out of thebottom and sides thereof and a vessel to be removably secured withinsaid crate or case provided with roughened sides to operate with saidcushions to prevent injury to or disengagement of said vessel. 6.Ashipping crate or case having resilient cushions formed out of thebottom and sides thereof, the latter being in vertical rows, and avessel having alternate vertical rows of roughened and plane surfaces,whereby in jury to and accidental disengagement of said vessel isprevented.

7. A shipping crate or case provided with supporting devices adapted tobe secured upon the exterior thereof and prevent the dis engagement ofthe vessel within the same when not in use and when extended to maintainsaid crate or case in an elevated position, and a bail to retain saiddevices above the vessel.

8. A shipping crate or case provided with a bail and movable supportsadapted to meet above the crate or case to prevent disengagement of thevessel in the crate and devices 10. A shipping crate or case providedwith a bail carrying clamps and with supporting devices, said bail beingadapted to rest upon the vessel within said crate or case and saidsupporting devices to cross said bail, clamps to secure the latter inposition and locking devices to retain the ends of said clamps.

11. A shipping crate or case provided with a bail and movable supportingdevices adapted to meet above said crate or case and pre- Ventdisengagement of the vessel in the crate and locking devices upon thelatter to retain said supporting devices in position.

12. A shipping crate or case provided with supporting devices adapted torest upon the exterior thereof and locking-yokes upon said crate or caseto enter slots in edges of said devices to secure said supportingdevices in position.

13. A shipping crate or case provided with cleats or strips, supportingdevices connected therewith and locking devices in said cleats to enterslots in the edges of said devices to retain said supporting devices inposition on said cleats when not in operative position.

14. A shipping crate or case provided with a drum or casing havingresilient ribs or ridges, a vessel having a roughened surface adapted toengage with said ribs or ridges, a bail connected with said drum orcasing, supporting devices also connected therewith, means upon saidbail to secure said supporting devices in position above said bail andmeans for locking said supporting devices upon the side of said drum orcasing.

15. A crate or case of sheet material upon the interior whereof areformed resilient ribs or ridges and a vessel adapted to be removablysecured in said crate having exterior grooves or flanges to engage withsaid ribs to prevent the accidental disengagement of the vessel.

16. A crate or case of sheet material whereof are formed interiorresilient ribs or ridges,

sel having grooves or flanges upon the-sides thereof to engage with saidribs, said vessel being adapted to rest upon the ribs upon the bottomofsaid crate.

18. A crate orfcase having bars connected therewith, a yoke pivoted tosaid bars and means for retaining said parts in an eiitendedposition sothat the crate can he tilted.

p 19. A crate or case having levers connected therewith, bars; connectedwith said levers; a

yoke pivoted to said bars and means for re- I 1 taining said parts in anextended position so that saidcrate can be tilted,

' 20. A crate orcase provided with a movable lever upon each sidethereof, bars connected with said levers, a yoke pivoted to said barshaving retaining devices to be engaged by said levers and means toretain said bars and yoke in position sothe crate can be tilted.

2.1. A crate or case provided with movable levers, bars connected withsaid levers, a yoke bail and adapted to cross the same and be retainedin said position by said clamps and means for securing the clamps.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name in the presence of twowitnesses.

' JOEL M. GILBERT. Witnesses:

CHARLES S. Roenns,

M. L. SHAY.

nected with said crate at right-angles to said

